The context: a year to end on a high note
2024 will soon end, no doubt with regret for FC Annecy as the year has been beautiful from March onwards. Laurent Guyot’s men have so far compiled 53 points during the 34 days played over two seasons, an average of 1.56 points per match (1.81 from March 1). “That’s a lot of points. If we imagine that over a full season, that would almost send us to Ligue 1. I don’t claim to have the weapons to fight for that but, occasionally, we have qualities to showcase in terms of state of mind, of investment and self-sacrifice, a bit like Brest was able to do against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday in the Champions League (1-0 victory). The credit goes to the players but also to the managers and shareholders who, last January, made a significant effort to help the team because we were relegated. It’s a good year, we’re going to try to make it very, very good,” says coach Laurent Guyot. For comparison, Angers, second in Ligue 2 last season, moved up to Ligue 1 with an average of 1.79 points per game. “The objective remains to maintain itself as quickly as possible, we are not even halfway through the season yet,” recalls defender Thibault Delphis.
The opponent: Metz got underway
Relegated from Ligue 1 after losing in the play-offs against Saint-Etienne, FC Metz (3rd), now led by former Concarneau coach Stéphane Le Mignan, took a little time to get into action. Now, despite the delay, the Lorraines are returning to the top thanks to four matches without defeat (3v, 1d, only one goal conceded) including a final victory this Monday against Dunkirk (2-0). “By its past, its players, the quality of its recruitment, it is a team which should fight to come back. They are of the caliber of Lorient and Paris FC. These are super interesting matches to play even if they are difficult. It’s heavy, as they say,” says Guyot. The Messins will not be able to regain the lead in the ranking in the event of a victory in Annecy but, if they win, they would take advantage of the confrontation between Lorient and the PFC on Saturday at 2 p.m. to get closer to the summit.
The fact: two more days of vacation
Guyot and his staff had planned everything for the Christmas holidays with five days of rest, from the evening of the 32nd final match of the Coupe de France against GOAL (N2) Friday December 20 (8:45 p.m.) until the scheduled resumption on December 26. But since then, the LFP has imposed a minimum of six consecutive days off on clubs, except that Ligue 2 always resumes on January 3 with a trip to Ajaccio for the FCA. “I understand basically, in this controversial period about the pace imposed on the players and the fight is legitimate. But it’s not quite the same rhythm between an L2 player and another who plays in the national team and the Champions League. To the extent that January 3 was not postponed either, this is inconsistency. We will adapt, we have no choice anyway. And again, I’m not complaining in the sense that we will play on Friday the 20th when some will play on Sunday the 22nd.” It will therefore be a resumption on December 28, and not the 27th, because these are six “working” days. , December 25 is therefore not counted in the six days.
The phrase: “it shows in the rankings”
Thibault Delphis, FC Annecy defender: “Few people would have bet on the fact that we would be fifth. But we have confidence in the abilities of this group. We work well, we get along very well. I think it shows on the pitch, it’s our strength and it shows in the standings at the moment. »
The number: 6
By winning against Clermont (2-0) last Friday, FC Annecy added a sixth consecutive home victory without conceding a goal to its record. Facing Metz, FCA puts its series on the line and will try to continue to stand up to Sheffield United (2nd in the Championship, L2 England) which is the only team in Europe (European top 5 and their second divisions) to compile more , with eight victorious clean sheets in a row. “We feel good at home. We also feel that the supporters are pushing us a lot more this season, that helps us in more complicated moments. We want to please them in return and make the Sports Park a fortress. This challenge is thrilling. If we can keep clean sheets, as a defender it’s extremely rewarding,” Delphis says.
The squad: Kashi spared, still two suspended
The FCA will once again have to do without Clément Billemaz (ankle) but also Axel Drouhin and Trévis Dago, in turn suspended while Yohan Demoncy and Hamjatou Soukouna return from suspension. Although collective training was skipped at the start of the week due to a minor contracture, captain Ahmed Kashi will be operational. Goteh Ntignee was in care at the start of the week.
Senegal
